The September 9, episode of Monday Night Raw will be the red brand’s season premiere and WWE is doing all it can to deliver a stacked three-hour show. Raw will take place from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada so it’s fitting one of wrestling’s greatest Canadians will be on the show.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart will be a part of the season premiere of Raw from his beloved Great White North. The arrival of the Excellence of Execution was confirmed by Jackie Redmond.
BREAKING: I can officially confirm that Canadian LEGEND, Bret The Hitman Hart, will be in attendance this Monday for the season premiere of #WWERAW at the Saddledome in Calgary !!! Break out your pink and let’s rock! @wwe@BretHart@TripleH#wwepic.twitter.com/1aloTkqL3d
WWE fans have caught their first glimpse of Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries that will focus on the historic rise and dramatic fall of Vincent K. McMahon. The six one-hour episodes will delve into the life of the 79-year-old billionaire when it hits the streaming juggernaut on September 25. McMahon himself was interviewed for the docuseries, as the trailer shows right from the start as he declares,
“People have wondered who I really am. There’s this portrayal of me as a bad guy, but no one really knows me.”
– Vince McMahon in ‘Mr. McMahon’ (Netflix)
Some of the biggest names in wrestling history are involved, with appearances from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hulk Hogan,”Stone Cold” Steve Austin, John Cena, Bret Hart, Bruce Prichard, Eric Bischoff, and McMahon’s son-in-law and Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
As we see in the trailer, this docu-series won’t shy away from controversy and touches on the 1994 steroid trial, the double-murder suicide of Chris Benoit in 2007, and alleged sexual misconduct. While it was the latter that ultimately ended McMahon’s reign on top of wrestling’s empire, Janel Grant has not participated in the series.
Produced by Bill Simmons and Tiger King executive producer Chris Smith, Mr. McMahon has been in development since 2020. The project was reportedly reworked to reflect the allegations against McMahon, including his departure from WWE.
Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India.
Long-time WWE lead Production Designer Jason Robinson is reportedly parting ways with the company. Robinson is leaving the company and the belief is that Robinson either finished up at the Bash in Berlin PLE or will be done this week, according to Mike Johnson at PWInsider.
Robinson was reportedly, “highly thought of and was considered incredibly talented by those he worked with.” Having a background in theater and opera in terms of creating and designing, he eventually moved into the television realm.
The veteran was considered “a Kevin Dunn guy” during his run with the company. He has been with WWE for over 23 years and was involved in creating about every modern major event and television set.
“There were a lot of people shocked that he was exiting, noting he was as important as one can imagine when it came to designing the look and feel of WWE’s broadcast product.”
– Mike Johnson (PWInsider) on designer Jason Robinson’s WWE exit
TKO Group Holdings was formed in September last year and shortly after, over 100 people were cut from WWE’s offices. Several long-tenured employees associated with WWE have also departed the company. The list includes Kevin Dunn, who had been the promotion’s director of production. Reports suggest that WWE reportedly was hopeful for Dunn to stay on as far as WrestleMania 40 but he departed in December 2023. He was then replaced by Lee Fitting.
The biggest departure in WWE over the past year is of former Chairman Vince McMahon, who exited earlier this year following the Janel Grant lawsuit which was filed in January earlier this year.
As one of WWE’s top Superstars, Rhea Ripley has a legion of fans around the world, with some even wanting the chewing gum of the Australian Superstar. Recently, one exceptionally brave member of the WWE Universe got to enjoy a special moment with the former Women’s World Champion that they’ll never forget.
At WWE Monday Night RAW, the fan held a sign reading “I Beat Breast Cancer’s Ass To See Rhea Bloody Ripley.” On her TikTok, Ripley shared that she met with the fan backstage and autographed the fan’s sign, describing them as a “badass.”
This isn’t Ripley’s first unique interaction with a fan at a WWE event. In 2022, a downed Ripley messed with a fan by untying their shoelaces and later tweeted that nobody was safe from her mischief.
More recently, Ripley appeared at Fanatics Fest NYC where as she expected, she received a hero’s welcome by those who attended the event in the Big Apple. Ripley even recreated her signature entrance with a couple of doppelgangers in another example of the Aussie’s connection with her fans.
This week’s AEW Dynamite took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and proved to be an extra special night for Blake Reilly. Like the fan at RAW, Blake recently beat cancer and was able to celebrate with his family and AEW talent including Jeff Jarrett, Willow Nightingale, and AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson.
After pinning Liv Morgan with her signature Pretzel pin at Bash In Berlin, Ripley was on this week’s RAW and made clear her sights are set on the Women’s World Title. While Ripley suffered a leg injury during the show, she was able to chase Morgan away during the main event tag team match between the Judgment Day and Jey Uso/Damian Priest, Ripley even had some fun after RAW went off the air but will be all business when she’s next in the ring with Liv Morgan, a match her fans can’t wait to see.
Giulia is the latest addition to the highly-talented NXT women’s division. She recently made her impactful debut on the white and gold brand. In the main event of NXT No Mercy, Roxanne Perez retained her NXT Women’s Championship against OTM’s Jaida Parker. After the match, the former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion made her debut and had a staredown with ‘The Prodigy’.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database shows WWE filed to trademark the name ‘Giulia’ on September 3, with various entertainment services related to professional wrestling listed as the ‘Goods and Services’ usage description.
WWE was hopeful to feature Giulia on the NXT Heatwave event in July but she wasn’t cleared. The former STARDOM Champion recently finished her commitments with Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold promotion before arriving in WWE. Giulia is now a part of NXT and she has her eyes on the NXT Women’s title as it was expected.
On this week’s edition of NXT, Giulia once again made it clear what she wants. The main event segment featured Roxanne Perez delivering a promo on her win over Jaida Parker at No Mercy. Chelsea Green interrupted Perez, wanting to be named the new No.1 contender for the title.
However, Giulia made her way and attacked Green. She then demanded a title match with a short message, “Me, you, CW,” indicating NXT premiere on CW network on October 1. Another title match has also been teased for the NXT premiere.
For decades, WWE’s corporate offices were based out of Titan Towers, a 90,000-square-foot complex located in Stamford, Connecticut. Now, WWE has a new home, and their old stomping ground is officially up for sale.
A listing from real estate firm Newmark revealed that the sale price for Titan Towers is subject to an offer and its WWE history is referenced in the listing. The building is set on 1.19 acres of land and includes “11’ finished ceiling heights, a rooftop patio with unobstructed views of Long Island Sound, a fitness center, a cafeteria and 300 parking spaces.”
Titan Towers On WWE TV
Though most commonly used as a place for WWE’s corporate business, Titan Towers made several appearances in the company’s programming. The building was even part of a Superbowl commercial during the Attitude Era which gave a tongue-in-cheek look at how the wrestlers of the time took their stance as ‘role models’ very seriously.
Titan Towers was also used for the WWE Money in the Bank 2020 Premium Live Event, which due to the COVID-19 pandemic, went ahead without a live crowd. Rather than having two exciting ladder matches take place to silence, WWE combined the Men’s and Women’s matches into one bout and the Superstars had to capture the briefcases that were on top of Titan Towers. The match was won by Asuka and Otis.
Much like Rocky Balboa in his first fight with Apollo Creed, Joe Tessitore went the distance in his first outing behind the WWE Raw commentator booth. The expectation is that Tessitore would have big shoes to fill when replacing Michael Cole in the lead commentary role for the longest-running pro wrestling show on television, but the longtime boxer and football commentator put his gloves on and dug his cleats in to give the program a unique and refreshing voice.
While sports announcers were brought in previously, there’s a great deal of different circumstances at Tessitore being put in the main Monday night role – the big difference is that Vince McMahon isn’t there anymore. Not only would the former chairman berate his commentary team over the headset, McMahon knew basically zero about sports not contained in the squared circle. A Mike Adamle, a Jimmy Smith or Adnan Virk was just window dressing for the “shiny new toy” whims of Vince who would greatly handcuff anyone with his micro-managerial tendencies. It was baptism by fire, but with too much fire and no baptism.
Second and in conjunction with Vince McMahon being gone is that TKO is the ever-watching eye for WWE with Nick Khan now steering the ship as CEO. Unlike Vince, Khan has plenty of sports acumen, an asset that has clearly paid off dividends for WWE in major ways in production, relationships and merchandise sales. It’s unknown if the Tessitore hiring was the brain-child of Khan, but WWE ultimately being operated by people with sports knowledge is beneficial to a Tessitore who’s looking to tussle.
Finally, and just as important as the previous, Joe is a bonafide fan. After his first night on RAW commentary Joe noted his affinity for the likes of a Big John Studd or a “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. Having a foundation that Tessitore holds steady ground on gives the veteran broadcaster plenty of ammo in his WWE Universal utility belt.
Tessitore’s appreciation for wrestling along with his understanding of how an actual athletic competition should be called enhanced the WWE product and gave it melded feel of Dick Enberg and Gordon Solie along with a sprinkle of Jim Ross.
Throughout the three hours, Joe weaved in a steadily calmness and precision in his commentary much like a star quarterback dissecting a defense behind center, but amped it up in the appropriate moments. If a heel did something egregious (see Drew McIntyre) Tessitore made the viewer feel that transgression. Bracelet beads being shoved down CM Punk’s throat? “Truly disgusting!” Drew beating Punk while he’s on a spinal board? “Abhorrent!” A Sami Zayn confronting GUNTHER and his World Heavyweight gold? Let’s lay out and let the moment speak for itself. The RAW season premiere may be next week, but Tessitore already turned the page in making it truly feel like a new season.
It’s also a necessity that commentary takes two to tango and Tessitore had a great dance partner in Wade Barrett. Barrett supported Joe in all the right ways, adding his signature cadence of colorful commentary, being a sounding board for Tess to bounce off of and just the simple fact that he’s a veteran of the ring boosted the two to being an already perfect pairing.
This Monday’s RAW may have been Tessitore’s first day on the job, but it feels like he’s already due a raise.
Rhea Ripley has established herself as one of WWE’s most dominant Superstars in recent years, evidenced by her impressive collection of championships and accolades. Now, Ripley has added another memorable moment to her career by officially naming her signature, suggestive pinning maneuver. At WWE Bash in Berlin, Ripley used the ‘authoritative’ pin on Liv Morgan to score the win for the Terror Twins.
Speaking with Peter Rosenberg and Jackie Redmond on the Bash in Berlin post-show, Ripley said the move shares its name with a local delicacy.
“I like to call it ‘the pretzel pin.’ It’s very fitting.”
– Rhea Ripley
Damian Priest jokingly dubbed the maneuver the, “Take it Easy pin” which got a laugh. Whatever the move is called, Rhea Ripley has proven to be a relentless force in WWE with many expecting that it won’t be long before she holds championship gold again.
On this week’s episode of RAW, Ripley made it clear that she wants a match with Liv Morgan for the WWE Women’s World Title, a title Ripley was never defeated for. Although Dominik Mysterio claimed Morgan wasn’t present at the show, this turned out to be a ruse, allowing Liv to ambush Ripley.
Later that night, Morgan attempted to assist Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh in their non-title match against Priest and Jey Uso. However, Ripley intervened, chasing Morgan away and helping Priest and Uso secure the win. Ripley also had some fun after this week’s Monday Night RAWwith Jey Uso and Priest but will be all business when she faces Liv Morgan in the ring.
Cody Rhodes is the unquestionable face of WWE today and is riding high in his first reign as Undisputed WWE Champion. The American Nightmare has a legion of fans wherever he goes, and that was made perfectly clear during the promotion’s recent European tour.
The Undisputed WWE Champion topped the merch sales charts for the recent tour, Fightful Select reports, while WWE RAW’s CM Punk took the #2 spot. The highest-grossing item at WWE Bash In Berlin was a weightlifting belt signed by Rhodes, the report adds.
Both Cody and Punk triumphed at WWE’s first PLE in Germany, with Rhodes retaining his championship against Kevin Owens in the show’s opener. Later in the night, Punk defeated McIntyre in a strap match and WWE had a reason behind Punk’s dominance over the Scottish Warrior.
The next month, Rhodes proved that his merchandise success at WrestleMania was no fluke as he was the only wrestler to appear on Fanatics’ top ten list of overall sellers. This was no small feat for Rhodes as Fanatics carries NBA and NFL products amongst its catalog as well as WWE. Rhodes’ popularity is proving to be undeniable in WWE and this latest European tour is just the latest sign that Cody Rhodes is truly undeniable.
Hulk Hogan’s legacy has been a topic of debate in recent years, as while no one can deny his influence on wrestling, many are opposed to the Hulkster and his many controversies. In recent years, Hogan has received mixed-at-best responses at WWE events, and now the Hulkster has evoked the name of Chris Benoit to address fan hostility.
On the ImPaulsive podcast, Hogan brought up Benoit, arguing that there are fans who still love the disgraced Canadian despite the tragedy of June 2007. Hogan then argued that fans can be very forgiving when they want to be, and hopes he is shown the same treatment given his “major mistakes.”
“If Chris Benoit can do the crap he did and the fans still love him [why not me?] they are forgiving… I have made some major mistakes… they are very, very forgiving.”
While some fans may be willing to ‘love’ Benoit (at least in Hogan’s eyes) WWE has done what it can to distance itself from the former World Champion. The promotion has made no reference to Benoit on TV since June 2007. While Benoit’s matches remain available in WWE’s extensive archives, the company goes to lengths not to reference him by name, often labeling his matches in ways that omit his involvement entirely.
Hogan referencing Chris Benoit has not gone down well with fans, many of whom took to social media to critique the Hulkster’s argument that fans have forgiven Benoit.
No one forgives Chris Benoit. Disgusting.@HulkHogan , there has never been a sincere apology or accountability..
Hulk Hogan once again proves he’s one of the dumbest people to have ever been in the wrestling business. Nobody ever forgave Chris Benoit. As a matter of fact, I think New Jack pretty much spoke for literally everyone when somebody asked him about Benoit: https://t.co/OogHINGw9wpic.twitter.com/yNkL6UThrt
NO ONE loves Chris Benoit. They respect his work in the ring but as a person I think every sane person would collectively agree he’s a piece of shit human pic.twitter.com/D0b6hnxRmu
Hogan was fired from WWE in 2015 after racist remarks came to light. His exit saw him removed from WWE’s Hall of Fame, though this would only be known in 2018 when he was readmitted into the Hall of Fame. More recently, Hogan spoke of bodyslamming Kamala Harris and made a ‘joke’ about Native Americans that he quickly blamed on his drinking.
Despite this, WWE has signed a new five-year deal with Hogan that will see the wrestling icon serve as an ambassador and have his license used for merchandise. While Hogan’s comments continue to rub many the wrong way, the Donald Trump endorser is sticking to what he believes about the fans and their willingness to forgive.
Hulk Hogan is no stranger to controversy, from his racist rant that was exposed in 2015 to his recent comments about bodyslamming Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite this, Hogan remains one of the biggest names ever in wrestling, and fans can expect to see much more of him as part of WWE.
Recently, Hogan sat down with Logan Paul—another WWE personality known for his own share of controversies—to discuss his career and future in the industry. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer shared that he has signed a new multi-year deal with WWE. This agreement secures Hogan’s image for merchandise and ensures he will continue serving as a WWE ambassador.
“I signed a five-year deal. I’m 71 years old in a few weeks. I signed a five-year deal for the licensing and merchandising stuff, and ambassador stuff.”
Hogan also reflected on working with Nick Khan after decades of working with former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. The Hulkster praised Khan’s cut-and-dry nature of doing business compared to his predecessor.
“He doesn’t overthink the creative. Nick Khan is strictly business… I said, ‘Hey brother, this artwork that hasn’t been used for 35 years. I need it for my Real American Beer.’ Nick Khan says, ‘Let me get back to you in a couple of days…’ He made it really easy on me. Vince was great, too, but I don’t know if Vince would make that quick of a decision.”
Hogan’s most recent appearance for WWE took place in January of this year when he made a special appearance on RAW to celebrate 40 years of Hulkamania. As with many of his recent appearances, the reaction from the WWE Universe was mixed. While Hogan still enjoys a large and loyal fan base, there are many within the WWE community who remain critical of him due to his past controversies.
Nevertheless, Hogan’s new contract with WWE shows the company’s continued support for him and faith in the Hogan brand. Whether through merchandise, licensing, or special appearances, Hulk Hogan’s presence in WWE is far from over.
At Bash In Berlin, CM Punk scored his first televised win on WWE programming in over a decade with his Strap Match win over Drew McIntyre. Not only did Punk get the win at Germany’s first PLE, but he dominated the much larger McIntyre for a good portion of the bout.
Punk not only made McIntyre tap out but also hit four GTS finishers on the man who has goaded him since January. The finish of the match saw Punk touch all four turnbuckles without any issue from McIntyre, a sign of just how truly beaten Scottish Warrior had become.
But why did Punk win this match in such a decisive manner? WWE reportedly felt that Punk needed a big win, Dave Meltzer reports, as he’d yet to have one since returning to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames in November 2023. Before Berlin, Punk’s only wins for WWE post-return had been live event victories over ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio.
The reported belief within WWE was that McIntyre could handle getting so thoroughly beaten by CM Punk. It’s added that those in charge will have been aware that McIntyre would be getting his ‘heat’ back mere days later.
Not Over Yet
On RAW, Punk said that his feud with McIntyre is behind him and set his sights on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Moving on will prove easier said than done as Drew McIntyre ambushed Punk mid-promo and destroyed the fan-made bracelet gifted to Punk that has been pivotal in their feud.
McIntyre’s destruction of Punk in Denver, CO has left many believing that a third rubber match will take place at a future PLE, potentially next month’s Bad Blood show. Some have suggested that such a match would take place in Hell in a Cell, a match-type used at every Bad Blood PLE so far.
RAW also saw Sami Zayn come face to face with GUNTHER and make his own case to challenge the World Heavyweight Champion. With the WrestleMania 40 enemies on track for a rematch with a much richer prize, Punk will have to wait before he steps in the ring with the Austrian, giving him time to have one final showdown with Drew McIntyre.
Injuries are a workplace hazard of being a professional wrestler and all in-ring talent have to deal with them at one point or another. On the latest WWE Monday Night RAW, Kairi Sane was in action and suffered a gruesome injury to her eye during a match with some very high stakes.
Sane teamed with IYO SKY to take on the Unholy Union for a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. With new champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair at ringside, both teams held nothing back to get the win. During one spot in the match, Sane dove to the outside and hit Bianca Belair, but her face also hit the edge of the announce table.
Sane’s painful landing resulted in her bleeding from the eye but the Pirate Princess would not stay down. In the end though, it’d be the Unholy Union who got the win, earning another shot at the titles they lost at WWE Bash in Berlin. Post-match, Belair and Cargill stared down Damage CTRL, insinuating that the issues between the two teams are only getting started.
The excitement didn’t end after this week’s episode of WWE RAW went off the air from the Bell Arena in Denver, Colorado. In the main event of the show, Jey Uso and Damian Priest defeated WWE World Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & JD McDonagh in non-title action. While Liv Morgan tried to aid her Judgment Day allies, Rhea Ripley, who’d been attacked earlier in the night, neutralized the Women’s World Champion.
After RAW, Jey, Ripley, and Priest celebrated in the ring. Despite her ankle injury, Rhea joined in with a ‘Yeet’ and after some convincing, Priest joined her and Jey for a three-person ‘Yeet.’
JEY USO AND RHEA RIPLEY AFTER #WWERaw WENT OFF AIR GOT DAMIAN PRIEST TO FINALLY YEET ?
This week’s RAW dealt with the fallout from last Saturday’s Bash in Berlin, the first WWE PLE to ever take place in Germany. On RAW, CM Punk set his sights on the World Heavyweight Championship, only to be ambushed by Drew McIntyre and have his bracelet destroyed. Sami Zayn also confronted World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER who declined the challenge of the man who beat him at WrestleMania 40.
The late Andre the Giant was a true legend of wrestling and in 1993 became the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. Instantly recognizable for his trademark singlet, a much different piece of Andre’s in-ring attire has received a spotlight this week.
At the Sports Immortals collection, Jim Platt revealed quite possibly the most unique piece of Andre memorabilia; his jockstrap. With a size 60 waistband, the item fits eight grown men, Platt explained to Gabby Gonzalez. The jockstrap is fittingly colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the flag of Andre’s native France.
Remembering Andre the Giant
Fans may be hesitant to come face-to-gusset with Andre the Giant’s jock-strap and thankfully, there is plenty more memorabilia of the Eighth Wonder of the World. In August 2023, Andre was celebrated for a weekend in Ellerbe, North Carolina, where the legendary wrestler lived while working in the United States. These days, Andre’s ranch is a museum featuring several personal effects of the wrestler.
It’s been over 30 years since the death of Andre the Giant but the memory of the legendary wrestler lives on to this day. Andre’s giant physique is matched only by the giant legacy he has had on the wrestling business, as fans still remember the iconic French wrestler.
The September 2, episode of WWE RAW marked the commentary debut of Joe Tessitore, whose arrival was confirmed earlier this year. Tessitore has been thrown in at the deep end as the lead announcer on WWE’s flagship show, but how does he think he did?
In a WWE RAW Digital Exclusive, Tessitore said that he felt the passion and intensity of the WWE Universe in Denver, Colorado at his first ever RAW as a commentator.
“I was very into them, it was a great reception. It meant a lot to me. I brought out the little kid in me tonight.”
Assessing his performance on Raw, Tessitore said that he feels he wasn’t at his best, but is optimistic for his future on the red brand.
“I wasn’t great tonight, I wasn’t great tonight, but I was a passionate fan tonight.”
Tessitore also spoke about the show bringing out “the little kid in me” and recalled buying a bunch of merchandise from the show. Tessitore is pleased that “Night One [is] in the books” and is excited to have many more.
Joe Tessitore
Tessitore may be a fresh face to the WWE Universe but he’s no stranger to high-profile sports broadcasting. Tessistore also works with ABC and ESPN and leads the latter’s world championship fight broadcasts as the blow-by-blow broadcaster for Top Rank Boxing.
Tessitore has also provided play-by-play for Monday Night Football, preparing him nicely for calling the intense action of WWE. While Tessitore will be kept plenty busy as a WWE RAW commentator, his role with the promotion will allow him to remain working with ESPN and ABC.
Since TKO Group Holdings launched in September 2023, several names associated with WWE have parted ways with the promotion, either willingly or via termination. Now, another longtime employee of the wrestling promotion has reportedly been shown the door.
Michele Carlucci, WWE’s Director of Production Travel, has been “let go” from the company, the Wrestling Observer’s Daily Update reports. Carlucci had been with WWE since 1988 and had spent 14 years as Director of the Freelance Crew, Travel & Special Projects. She was elevated to the position of Director of Production Travel in 2019.
WWE Departures
WWE has seen several longtime figures in the company part ways, including Kevin Dunn who had been the promotion’s director of production. While WWE reportedly hoped for Dunn to stay on as far as WrestleMania 40, he left WWE in December 2023 and has since been replaced by Lee Fitting. Fitting’s work, including more dynamic camerawork compared to Dunn’s incessant cuts, has earned praise by fans.
In September 2023, shortly after the launch of TKO, over 100 people were cut from WWE’s offices in effort to create synchronicity with UFC. These layoffs included veterans of the company as well as Dana Warrior, wife of the Ultimate Warrior. Dana had previously worked as part of WWE’s creative team.
The biggest exit WWE has seen over the past year is, of course, that of Vince McMahon. Not only has McMahon stepped down from WWE, but he was scrubbed from WWE 2K24 archival footage as part of the game’s 40 Years of WrestleMania mode.
In recent months, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre’s feud has grown increasingly personal, with a bracelet of Punk’s playing a pivotal role in their beef. The bracelet, which bears the names of Punk’s wife and dog, was gifted to him by a fan, but it seemingly met a grisly fate on this week’s WWE RAW.
Punk appeared to address his Bash In Berlin victory over Drew McIntyre and shared his plan to challenge World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER. That match will have to wait as McIntyre ambushed the AEW alum, leveling Punk with three Claymores. McIntyre destroyed the bracelet Punk was wearing before shoving the beads in his mouth.
Victoria, the fan who created the bracelet, watched what transpired on RAW and took to Twitter to thank WWE for “the craziest 5 months ever.” Victoria was grateful to have played a part in WWE programming and warned Drew McIntyre to watch his back.
welp since the bracelet is broken i would like to thank @WWE and @CMPunk for the craziest 5 months ever. i have been a fan of wwe for over half of my life and i never would have imagined anything like this happening to me i am so grateful <3 (@DMcIntyreWWE watch your back) pic.twitter.com/Mki0IJgeJi
While this week’s RAW may have been shocking, some fans were skeptical that Punk would allow such a personal gift from a fan to be destroyed as part of a storyline. On his Instagram Stories, Punk shared that the bracelet broken on RAW was a replica that had been constructed for the segment, and he still has the real thing.
What’s Next?
Punk may have his sights set on the World Heavyweight Championship but it’s clear his feud with Drew McIntyre isn’t over just yet. Many have predicted a tie-breaking match at WWE Bad Blood, potentially inside Hell in a Cell. WWE’s first Bad Blood event in 20 years will take place next month and the PLE has always featured a Hell in a Cell match in the past. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and their increasingly personal feud.
History was made in the Netflix Hot Dog special and Nikki Garcia, Rey Mysterio and Omos had a front row seat to witness the gluttony.
Famed competitive eaters Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut took part in a live Labor Day special on Netflix where the two went head-to-head in eating hot dogs and one man broke the record. Chestnut came out the victor eating an unprecedented 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes to defeat his longstanding rival who could only down 67 dogs, and there were two WWE Hall of Famers on hand in Bella and Mysterio to be apart of the prestigious face-stuffing.
Along with comedian Rob Riggle, Garcia was the host to the event while Rey Mysterio presented Chestnut with the championship title after out-eating Kobayashi. Chestnut got his own WWE gold courtesy of Mysterio, who was the presenter for Chestnut while Omos was “Team Kobayashi.”
The event had to have felt like a breath of fresh air for Garcia after the unfortunate week she had as her husband Artem Chigvintsev was arrested on a felony corporal injury charge Thursday. Chigvintsev was released on $25,000 bail and through her representative, Garcia requested privacy after the incident. Garcia was noted to not be wearing her wedding ring during the Netflix special as she was photographed boarding a private jet with her son Matteo over the weekend.
Nikki Garcia (fka Nikki Bella) is LIVE on Netflix for the Unfinished Beef Hot Dog challenge! She looks great, thank God! She is currently not wearing her wedding ring.
Chigvintsev called 911 following the domestic dispute along with claiming that Garcia threw shoes at him. Police noticed injuries to Garcia and then took Chigvintsev into custody.
This week’s WWE RAWfrom the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado featured the ongoing tournament to determine Bron Breakker’s next challenger and the fallout from Bash in Berlin. We also saw the debut of Joe Tessitore, the veteran sports broadcaster who is the show’s new announcer alongside Wade Barrett.
Michael Cole, who had previously been on RAW, has been moved to WWE SmackDown where he’ll call the action alongside Corey Graves starting next Friday when the show returns to the USA Network.
Joe Tessitore Joins WWE
Tessitore’s signing was confirmed back in July and while he’ll soon be debuting in WWE, he’s no stranger to broadcasting. Tessistore also works with ABC and ESPN, and leads the latter’s world championship fight broadcasts as the blow-by-blow broadcaster for Top Rank Boxing. Tessitore has also provided play-by-play for Monday Night Football, preparing him nicely for calling the intense action of WWE. Joe’s deal with WWE will allow him to remain employed with ABC & ESPN.
Tessitore’s passionate announcing was documented in a 2012 feature from Sports Illustrated. In the feature, College Football Live producer Nick Sciallo described Tessitore’s calls as the work of “a hyper, hyper-intense guy who’s passionate about what he does.” Gifted with an encyclopedia-like mind that’ll come in handy every Monday night, Tessitore can recite Heisman winners as if he’s rattling off the alphabet, the feature adds.
Tessitore has been praised for his ability to deliver unique calls, for better and for worse. In 2016, Tessitore declared “Texas is back, folks!” at the end of a Longhorns overtime victory over Notre Dame. The line became something of a meme among football fans as the Longhorns experienced its fair share of struggles after the call.
Raw’s Revolving Door
Joe Tessitore will certainly hope to do better than those who’ve joined WWE’s commentary teams only to fall flat. In May 2021, Adnan Virk was cut by WWE mere weeks after his signing was announced. Many at the time felt that Virk failed to demonstrate the skills needed for a lead WWE announcer and lacked chemistry with Corey Graves and Byron Saxton.
Jimmy Smith replaced Adnan Virk in 2021 though he too was not long for WWE and would leave in October 2022. In 2008, WWE did all they could to make Mike Adamle succeed on TV, including giving him roles as an interviewer, as RAW General Manager, and as a commentator. He was gone by July of that year.
In wrestling, plans are always subject to change and plenty of stars have fallen victim to stop-start pushes. Odyssey Jones, who recently seemed poised for a significant role on WWE RAW, is now facing uncertainty about his future with the company.
This week, Jones’ profile was removed from WWE.com in a worrying sign for the 30-year-old Superstar. This change comes mere weeks after Jones was brought to RAW to aid the New Day in their ongoing feud with the Final Testament. Jones’ arrival has also played a part in a teased split in the New Day, with Xavier Woods concerned that Kofi Kingston has brought Jones in to replace Big E.
Jones’ removal from the site does not confirm he has left WWE, but in the past has been an indication of a departing talent. Earlier this month, Beth Phoenix’s profile was removed from WWE’s active roster. Mere days later, the former WWE Women’s Champion confirmed that she is not under contract with WWE. Similarly, Ricochet had his profiles scrubbed from WWE’s roster earlier this year and joined AEW at the All In: London 2024 pay-per-view.
Jones tried out for WWE in June 2018 and was hired by the promotion the following February. At WWE’s Performance Center, he would set a trap bar deadlift of 800lb in May 2019, besting the previous record of 775lb held by Otis. Jones has competed 70 times for WWE since his arrival and boasts a 38-30-2 win/loss/draw record.
Jones was a huge talking point among fans just one month ago but now his future remains uncertain. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Odyssey Jones as more is made known.
Since 2015, Asuka has dominated on WWE programming as part of RAW, SmackDown, and WWE NXT. Though she’s currently out of action, fans should expect to see more of the Empress for years to come as PW Insider reports that Asuka has signed a new deal.
Asuka is a former RAW, SmackDown, and NXT Women’s Champion, in addition to being a Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank winner. The 42-year-old Superstar is a four-time Women’s Tag Team Champion and boasts the record for the most reigns with the titles.
Asuka hasn’t competed since WWE Backlash: France in May of this year, where she and Kairi Sane lost the Women’s Tag Team Titles to Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. That same month, Asuka underwent knee surgery which has kept her out of the ring ever since. During WWE’s recent tour of Japan, Asuka appeared sans crutches in support of her Damage CTRL allies.
WWE Talent Signing New Contracts
The ‘new era’ of WWE has proven its immense popularity and success, with several top Superstars re-signing with the company in 2024.
That same month, Drew McIntyre also re-signed with WWE, quashing rumors of an ‘Elite’ move ahead of a show at Wembley Stadium. The Scottish Warrior, who received a ceremonial sword from TKO’s Dwayne Johnson, has since established himself as a top heel on WWE RAW throughout 2024.
Mandy Rose hints at a pro wrestling comeback, reflects on her WWE release and its positive outcomes.
She’s open to a WWE return and wants to make a bigger impact on the main roster, but emphasizes WWE is not the only path to success in wrestling.
Whether it’s fitness competitions or WWE Tough Enough, Mandy Sacs (Mandy Rose) is no stranger to healthy competition. A background that made her perfect for the Wrestler’s Combine happening on September 4. The event is run in collaboration with Black Label Pro Wrestling and its card of matches as part of the Crowning Glory event in Chicago.
Fellow former WWE superstar Mojo will co-host the festivities along with “Tough Enough” winner Maven and Emmy-winning interviewer Chris Van Vliet. The show is actually streaming on Vilet’s YouTube channel. Others competing include Moose, Jordynne Grace, Parker Boudreaux, Ash by Elegance, Xia Li (Zhao Xia), Riddick Moss (Mike Rallis), and Jake Hager.
“I love competitions,” Sacs said. “I thought this one specifically was cool and unique. I think it’s cool that nobody has ever thought of a Wrestler’s Combine before. Immediately, I was like, ‘Why not? This sounds like fun.’”
“…I think the competition is pretty stacked, I must say. When I found out Jordynne Grace was going to be in it, I was like oh sh*t. I’m not afraid of everyone though. I think my confidence is top-tier. We have a lot of great competition. A good variety of women, and men of course. Xia Li, I used to work with her in WWE, as well as Ashe by Elegance. We used to be a tag team in WWE. We definitely have some history with her. I think it’s going to be really interesting. I think we all bring something different to the table.”
There are four women and four men competing in the combine itself. The participants will be put through four events.
This includes who can run the ropes the fastest, arm wrestling, a wrestler’s twist on tug-of-war, and a shoot collar and elbow tie-up. For Sacs, running the ropes is something she hasn’t done for the last year-and-a-half.
“That’s going to be interesting. I feel like once I get back in there it’s like I never left,” she said. “I have so much confidence in that, I’ll be just fine.”
When it comes to physical condition, Sacs stays ready. In fact she just got off a 12-week bodybuilding prep and will be leaner than normal when fans see her in the Wrestler’s Combine. The bombshell being back in the pro wrestling space certainly begs the question if it’s the start of a comeback.
“For sure. I think this event specifically will kind of light up a spark,” Sacs said. “I’ve done a lot of appearances, autograph signings, and stuff like that, but I haven’t done in-ring appearances. I’m not going to say exactly how all this will go down because we’re going to keep some stuff a surprise. I’m definitely excited for this in-ring appearance. It has definitely created some buzz out there. I think a lot of people are wanting a Mandy Rose comeback. So we shall see what I feel like after this Wrestler’s Combine.”
Looking Back on WWE Release & What Has Happened Since
Sacs was in the biggest run of her career on NXT before WWE blindsided her with a release at the end of 2022. The record-breaking NXT Champion ended up banking big bucks to the tune of seven figures thanks to a FanTime account. Looking back, the popular performer has no hard feelings because of how things turned out since then.
“Time has flown by. I’ve been blessed with a lot of amazing opportunities during this time. A lot of things have happened in my life,” she said. “Triumph and tragedy, there have been a lot of lows and highs. I think that’s with everyone, but through it all, I think I’ve learned a lot and evolved a lot as a woman, and am proud and blessed. I practice gratitude every day. I think that’s really important. When one door closes, another opens. I think everything is meant to be. I think if there is a wrestling comeback for me in the future, we shall see.”
The 34-year-old appreciates helping to push the point that a WWE release doesn’t have to be the end. It can also be a beginning.
“You’re not going to be in WWE forever or wrestling forever,” Sacs said. “I think it’s such a great place for wrestling as a whole because there is so much opportunity out there. You see people like Ashe by Elegance and other women, even Mercedes Mone. Different people have expanded and gone to other federations and are successful.
“…I have nothing but positive things to say about WWE. I’m grateful for the platform they presented me with. I just think there are other opportunities out there as well where you can flourish. It doesn’t have to be there. I think what other women are doing is awesome. I think I am a good example to show you have a brand and you can do a lot of different things with that brand. You don’t have to be subject to just that one company per se.”
Mandy’s Assessing Pro Wrestling Future
Sacs has been admittedly torn about her pro wrestling future. She is very family-oriented, and happy spending quality time with them. You may even find her at the Arthur Avenue Deli in New York these days lending a hand. The consummate businesswoman has even putting the finishing touches on an energy drink with fiancé Tino Sabbatelli.
“It is kind of like a relationship. In the last year and a half, I have been able to do a lot of different things,” she said. “…The years and holidays I’ve missed. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t regret it. It is the grind. We’re here for a reason. I got to do great things. This lifestyle is great, and I am able to make money and enjoy the beautiful things in life. It’s one of those things where do I want to leave the lifestyle I’m in right now? Then there are certain days I miss the adrenaline rush and the camaraderie. It is a hard thing to balance.”
Looking Back on ‘Tough Enough’
It’s hard to believe next year will mark a decade since she started her pro wrestling journey through Tough Enough. Despite not winning, Sacs took the opportunity and the rest is history. The alum would welcome the show’s return given the life-changer it was for her and others.
“It’s crazy to reflect that was 10 years ago. I had no idea what I was doing stepping on a Skype interview for the Tough Enough interview,” she said. “I gave it my all and said what I knew. I didn’t know much. I didn’t come from a wrestling background. I wasn’t a huge fan. I wasn’t a huge fan. Something just clicked. I fell in love with the business. I fell in love with the world of wrestling. The stars aligned.”
Thoughts on The Fatal Influence
Sacs remains booked and busy these days. She doesn’t watch the pro wrestling shows religiously, but stays updated on her good friends. Seeing the impact her group Toxic Attraction made brings a smile to her face. Since then, other girl groups have come into the fold including a new one featuring Sacs’ former tag partner Jacy Jayne called The Fatal Influence.
“I love to see Jacy work in a new dynamic. It’s cool,” she said. “Those groups are always fun to watch. It’s cool to see the different talents get together and different personalities. With Jacy, Gigi [Dolin], and myself, it was like three very different women getting together. We didn’t know what we were getting out of this. It ended up just working. It’s cool to see that. I’m excited to see where it all goes.”
Goals For In-Ring Return
If she does return the ring, Sacs has some goals. Even if it were in WWE. She wants to leave an even bigger mark.
“Making that statement whether it was on Monday Night Raw or Friday night SmackDown because I did make such a big statement on NXT,” Sacs explained. “I felt it was my time to then get to Monday or Friday and do it on the big screen. NXT is great and it’s so amazing what they’ve built, but obviously, the end goal is to be in front of thousands of people and big crowds and be on TV every week. I was with NXT but in a smaller situation. I think that would be the ultimate goal if I wanted to get back. Whether it’s with a group or by myself, that new Mandy Rose mentality of not really giving a damn and going out there and kicking butt. That would be cool.”
Tonight’s WWE Raw broadcasts live on the USA Network at 8pm ET from the Ball Arena City in Denver, Colorado.
Raw will deal with the fallout of last weekend’s Bash in Berlin PLE, the ongoing tournament to determine Bron Breakker’s next challenger and much more.
Here are the confirmed matches and segments for the show, as WWE begins its build to its next premium live event, Bad Blood:
IC Tournament: Sheamus vs. Bronson Reed vs. Ludwig Kaiser
IC Tournament: Ilja Dragunov vs. Dragon Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio
Zelina Vega vs. Shayna Baszler
American Made (Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, and Ivy Nile) vs. Alpha Academy (Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri)
Women’s Tag Titles Contenders: Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn) vs. Damage CTRL (IYO SKY and Kairi Sane)
New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair will celebrate their title win at Bash in Berlin
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest WWE News and coverage of WWE Raw.
What Happened Last Week
Catch up on the Top 10 moments from last week’s show:
Being a part of WWE’s roster is no easy feat, as you’re expected to make shows around the world, often making the trip out of your own pocket. It’s not just the in-ring talent who have to deal with this demanding schedule, and one ex-WWE name allegedly got in trouble for choosing family over the company.
In the run-up to WWE Bash In Berlin 2024, Randy Orton spoke with Michael Cole and said he feels WWE is 100% now than it has been before. Orton shared that locker room morale has skyrocketed, thanks in part to WWE letting talent time off to be with their families.
One person who’s especially pleased to see this change is Jonathan Coachman. On Twitter, Coachman recalled being punished for not going to a Tribute to the Troops event in Afghanistan as his pregnant wife wanted him to stay.
Damn is Randy right. In my 10 years I missed ONE Monday night which was for my honeymoon. I was punished for not going to Afghanistan because my daughter was due and my wife didn’t want me to go. I also believe it’s the reason a lot of wrestlers are not here today because of the… https://t.co/e0MhsbuKHN
Coachman was with WWE full-time from 1999 to 2008 and returned as a RAW commentator and pre-show host from 2016 to 2018. Despite the positive changes Coachman is pleased to see though, fans should not expect to see him on WWE programming again. In November 2023, Coachman said he would never return to WWE due to how he was treated during his second run with the promotion.
